A car wash was liable for unpaid wages and penalties owed by a separate and unrelated business that had operated a car wash at the same location before the property owner evicted it, the California Court of Appeal has held under Section 2066 of the California Labor Code, which applies exclusively to the car washing and polishing industry. People ex rel. Harris v. Sunset Car Wash, LLC, No. B233915 (Cal. App. Dist. 2 Div. 5 May 16, 2012). Affirming a $120,000 judgment against the new car wash operator, the Court concluded it was a “successor” within the meaning of Section 2066 of the California Labor Code because it operated in the same location and performed the same services. Justice Orville A. “Jack” Armstrong issued a vigorous dissent, declaring the Court’s decision violated the precepts of statutory interpretation, misapprehended legislative intent, and visited a gross injustice on the new car wash operator.
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